Disc positioning attachment for a fastener driving tool

ABSTRACT

A fastener driving tool and an attachment for positioning a disc at a nosepiece of the fastener driving tool are provided. The fastener driving tool includes a tool body having the nosepiece extending along a discharge axis for discharging a fastener, and the attachment. The attachment includes a coupling section having a body defining a hollow portion configured to receive at least a portion of the nosepiece of the fastener driving tool and a positioning section adjacent to the coupling section, the positioning section including a lip defining a slotted area having an open side configured to receive the disc and at least one magnet for magnetically holding the disc in the positioning section.

BACKGROUND

The following description relates to an attachment for a tool, forexample, a disc positioning attachment for a fastener driving tool toposition a disc along a discharge axis so that a fastener may bedischarged through the disc.

A rigid insulation board may be fastened to a wooden stud using a nail.The board, although rigid, may be somewhat flexible or crushable. Assuch, the ability to secure the board may be limited due to therelatively small diameter of the head of the nail. To better secure theboard, it is known to secure the nail in the insulation board bypositioning the nail through an opening of a washer or disc and thendriving the nail through the rigid insulation board and the wooden studso that the washer is positioned between the head of the nail and therigid insulation board. Accordingly, a contact area of the fastener,i.e., the nail and the washer, is increased, and pressure exerted on therigid insulation board by the head of the nail may be spread over thearea of the washer.

Known methods of securing the nail to the rigid insulation board andwooden stud include hand nailing an assembled cap and nail, or using apneumatic nailer with a plastic disc coil feeding unit. However, handnailing the assembled cap and nail is time consuming and laborintensive. Using the pneumatic nailer may decrease time and labor.However, the plastic discs may not be sufficiently strong for allapplications.

Another known apparatus for securing the nail to the rigid insulationboard is a round, lipped position plate located at a discharge end of apneumatic nailer. The washer may be made of a magnetic material and heldagainst the round, lipped position plate by a pair of magnets located180 degrees apart. The round, lipped position plate includes an openingthrough which a discharged nail may be received. An opening formed inthe washer must be aligned with the opening of the position plate,which, in turn, is aligned with a discharge axis formed along thepneumatic nailer. As the discharged nail travels through the respectiveopenings, the head of the nail engages the washer and removes the washerfrom the round, lipped position plate and transfers the washer to therigid insulation board.

However, positioning the washer on the round, lipped position plate mustbe done by hand. Proper positioning such that the respective openingsare aligned requires a visual confirmation by an operator that theopenings of the washer and position plate are aligned, so that thedischarged nail may be received through both. The manual positioning ofthe washer on the position plate, repeated for every nailing operation,may be time consuming.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a fastener driving tool havingan attachment on which the washer may be easily and accuratelypositioned and does not require visual confirmation of the washerposition.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, there is provided an attachment for positioninga disc at a nosepiece of a fastener driving tool. The attachmentincludes a coupling section having a body defining a hollow portionconfigured to receive at least a portion of the nosepiece of thefastener driving tool and a positioning section adjacent to the couplingsection, the positioning section including a lip defining a slotted areahaving an open side configured to receive the disc and at least onemagnet for magnetically holding the disc in the positioning section.

According to another aspect, there is provided a fastener driving toolincluding a tool body having a nosepiece extending along a dischargeaxis for discharging a fastener, and an attachment for positioning adisc at the nosepiece. The attachment includes a coupling section havinga body defining a hollow portion configured to receive at a least aportion of the nosepiece and a positioning section adjacent to thecoupling section, the positioning section including a lip defining aslotted area having an open side configured to receive the disc and atleast one magnet for magnetically holding the disc in the positioningsection.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will beapparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to likeparts, elements, components, steps, and processes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a fastener driving tool having anattachment for positioning a disc according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment for positioningthe disc on the fastener driving tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is perspective view of the attachment for positioning the disc ofFIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the disc being inserted into theattachment and fully inserted into the attachment, respectively,according to an embodiment described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in variousforms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be describedone or more embodiments with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended tolimit the disclosure to any specific embodiment described orillustrated.

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a fastener driving tool 10 having anattachment 12 for positioning a disc 14 (see FIGS. 2-4) according to anembodiment described herein. The fastener driving tool 10 is configuredto drive a fastener (not shown) into a work piece 16. The fastenerdriving tool 10 includes a nosepiece 18 that is configured to receivethe fastener from a fastener magazine 20 and internal driving elements(not shown) that are configured to drive the fastener through thenosepiece 18 to discharge the fastener therefrom. The nosepiece 18extends along a discharge axis ‘A’, and the fastener is discharged alongthe discharge axis ‘A’. The fastener driving tool 10 may be, forexample, a nailer, and in some examples, may be a cordless and/orpneumatic nailer. The nailer is configured to drive a nail into the workpiece 16.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the attachment 12 on a fastener drivingtool 10 according an embodiment described herein. FIG. 3 is aperspective view of the attachment 12. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, theattachment 12 is coupled to an end of the nosepiece 18 through which thefastener is discharged. In on embodiment, the attachment 12 includes acoupling section 22. The coupling section 22 includes a body 24 defininga hollow portion 26 configured to receive at least a portion of thenosepiece 18. The attachment 12 further includes a positioning section28 adjacent to the coupling section 22. The positioning section 28 maybe separated from the coupling section 22 by a wall 30. That attachment12 may be formed as a single, unitary piece. Alternatively, theattachment 12 may be formed by separate parts fastened together usingknown fastening techniques.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the positioning section 28 includes a lip 32defining a slotted area 34. The lip 32 extends partially about aperiphery of the positioning section. The slotted area 34 includes anopen side 36 configured to receive the disc 14 therethrough into theslotted area 34, substantially radially relative to the discharge axis‘A’. In one embodiment, the positioning section 28 may be generallysquare or rectangular in cross section when viewed along the dischargeaxis ‘A’. The lip 32 may extend about three sides of the rectangle orsquare, leaving one peripheral side open (i.e., the open side 36) toreceive the disc 14. The lip 32, in use, is configured to contact thework piece 16 (see FIG. 1).

The disc 14 may be of a predetermined size and diameter for a particularapplication. For example, the disc 14 may be of a size and diametersuitable for use with a nail for fastening rigid insulation to anunderlying board or stud. The positioning section 28, and in particular,the lip 32, is sized to correspond to a diameter of the disc 14. Forexample, opposing sides of the lip 32 may be spaced apart by a distancethat substantially corresponds to, or is slightly greater than thediameter of the disc 14. Likewise, a segment of the lip 32 extendingbetween the opposing sides and opposing the open side 36 extends at alength that corresponds to, or is slightly greater than the diameter ofthe disc 14. Accordingly, the lip 32 is configured to position andsupport the disc 14 within the slotted area 34 at the positioningsection 28. That is, the lip 32 is sized and dimensioned such that thedisc 14 is maintained in a proper position via contact with the lip 32.

In addition, the disc 14 includes a centrally positioned aperture 38configured to receive the fastener (not shown) discharged from thefastener driving tool 10. Accordingly, the disc 14 and lip 32 of thepositioning section 28 on the attachment 12 are sized such that thecentral aperture 38 is positioned on the discharge axis ‘A’ when thedisc 14 is positioned in the slotted area 34 and supported by the lip32. In addition, the lip 32 and the positioning section 28 may bedimensioned such that when a correspondingly (or properly) sized disc 14is positioned therein, a portion of the disc 14 extends through the openside 36 beyond an outer extent of the positioning section 28. That is,with the disc 14 properly positioned in the positioning section 28, withthe central aperture 38 aligned on the axis ‘A’, and the disc 14 issubstantially held against movement out of the proper position by thelip 32, a radial extent of the disc 14 may extend beyond an outer extentof the positioning section 28 at the open side 36. Accordingly, anoperator may be able to visually confirm, from multiple positions, thatthe disc 14 has been positioned at the positioning section 28 of theattachment 12.

In the embodiments described herein, it is understood that thepositioning section 28, and in particular the lip 32 and the slottedarea 34 are sized and dimensioned to generally correspond to a size anddimension (e.g., the diameter) of the disc 14. That is, the lip 32 andslotted area 34 are dimensioned so that a disc 14 positioned within theslotted area 34 contacts, or is within predetermined acceptableclearances from all sides of the lip 32 to substantially hold the disc14 against movement out of the proper position, such that the centralaperture 38 remains positioned on the axis ‘A’.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the coupling section 22 mayalso include a coupling tongue 40 extending from the body 24. Thecoupling tongue 40 extends axially beyond the hollow portion 26 definedby the body 24 and is configured to be secured to the fastener drivingtool 10. The coupling tongue 40 may be formed as a generally flat leafsection, and includes an engagement portion 42 that may be formed at ornear a distal end of the coupling tongue 40. In one embodiment, theengagement portion 42 may be formed as a fork having an elongated openslot 44 formed therein, configured to engage a corresponding engagementportion 46 of the fastener driving tool 10. The corresponding engagementportion 46 of the fastener driving tool 10 may be, for example, anintegrally formed portion of the fastener driving tool 10 and/or includea separate securing element(s) configured to secure the engagementportion 42 of the coupling tongue 40 to the fastener driving tool 10.The coupling tongue 40 may be adjustably positioned on or secured to thenosepiece 18 (at the corresponding engagement portion 46) of the driverfastening tool 10 so that the attachment 12 may be secured at differentaxial positions along the nosepiece 18. Accordingly, by way of axialadjustment of the attachment 12, for example, along axis ‘A’, a depththat the fastener discharged from the fastener driving tool 10 is driveninto the work piece 16 may be adjusted. That is, axial adjustment of theattachment 12 relative to the nosepiece 18 adjusts a distance that afree end of the nosepiece 18 is positioned from the work piece 16,thereby adjusting the depth of drive of the fastener into the work piece16.

It is understood that the engagement portion of the coupling tongue 40is not limited to the example above, and other configurations areenvisioned. For example, the engagement portion 42 of the couplingtongue 40 may include a closed elongated slot, one or more than onecircular or non-circular apertures, or an interlocking securingcomponent or components configured to directly engage the fastenerdriving tool 10 to secure the coupling tongue 40 thereto. Interlockingsecuring components may include, for example, components of a snap-fitor interference fit fastener. The separate securing element(s) mayinclude known suitable securing elements, such as, but not limited to,bolts, screws, set screws, pins, clamps and other similarly suitableelements.

In one embodiment, the corresponding engagement portion 46 may be formedat or secured to the nosepiece 18 of the fastener driving tool 10. Thecorresponding engagement portion 46 may be received in the elongatedopen slot 44 of the coupling tongue 40 and secure the engagement portion42 of the coupling tongue 40 to the nosepiece 18. In one embodiment, thecorresponding engagement portion 46 may be a clamping mechanism thatapplies a clamping force to the coupling tongue 40 to secure thecoupling tongue 40 to the nosepiece 18 sufficient to prevent or limitunintentional movement of the coupling tongue 40 relative to thenosepiece 18.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are front views of the attachment 12 showing a disc 14being received therein. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the positioningsection 28 further includes at least one magnet 48. In one embodiment,the at least one magnet 48 is positioned near or adjacent to the lip 32at the segment opposite to the open side 36. For example, where the openside 36 is formed at a top of the positioning section 28, the at leastone magnet 48 may be positioned at or near the bottom of the positioningsection 28. In addition, the at least one magnet 48 may include twospaced apart magnets 48. The two spaced apart magnets 48 may bepositioned adjacent to opposing sides of the lip 32. The at least onemagnet 48 is configured, in part, to draw the disc 14 through theslotted area 34 to properly position the disc 14 within the slotted area34 at the positioning section 28, and to hold the disc 14 within theslotted area 34 until the fastener is discharged through the centralaperture of the disc 14, and the head of the fastener engages andreleases the disc 14 from the attachment 12. The at least one magnet 48may be embedded in or flush with the wall 30.

In use, according to one example, the attachment 12 is positioned on thenosepiece 18 of the fastener driving tool 10 by receiving a portion ofthe nosepiece 18 in the hollow portion 26 defined by the body 24 of thecoupling section 22. In addition, the engagement section 42 of thecoupling tongue 40 may be secured to a corresponding engagement section46 of the nosepiece 18. With the attachment 12 positioned on thefastener driving tool 10, the positioning section 28 is configured tohold a correspondingly dimensioned disc 14 such that a central aperture38 of the disc 14 is aligned with the discharge axis ‘A’. Further, asnoted above, the attachment 12 may include the wall 30 between thepositioning section 28 and the coupling section 22. The wall 30 includesa wall opening (not shown) through the discharge axis ‘A’ extends. Thewall opening is sufficiently sized to allow the fastener, including thehead, to be discharged therethrough entirely.

The disc 14 may be received in the slotted area 34 defined by the lip 32of the positioning section 28. In one embodiment, the lip 32 extendsaround three sides of a generally square or rectangular shape to definethe open side 36. An operator may slide the disc 14 into the slottedarea 34 through the open side 36. The disc 14 is guided on lateral sidesby the opposing sides of the lip 32, and is properly positioned withinthe slotted area 34 by abutting the segment of the lip 32 opposing theopen side 36 (i.e., the side of the lip between the opposing sides). Theat least one magnet 48 may attract the disc 14 to this position. Inaddition, the at least one magnet 48 is configured to hold the disc 14in this position until the fastener is discharged through the disc 14.In some examples, the force from the at least one magnet 48 may allowthe operator to release the disc 14 while only partially received in theslotted area 34. The attractive force from the at least one magnet 48may draw the disc 14 to the segment of the lip 32 opposing the open side36 to properly position the disc 14 in the slotted area 34. In addition,with the disc 14 properly positioned in the slotted area 34, the centralaperture 38 is positioned along and aligned with the discharge axis ‘A’.

The fastener driving tool 10 may then be operated to discharge afastener. The fastener may be, for example, a nail having a head. Thenail is discharged from the nosepiece 18 along the discharge axis ‘A’and through the central aperture 38. The head of the fastener engagesthe disc 14 proximate to the central aperture 38. The force imparted onthe disc 14 by the head causes the disc 14 to be released from the atleast one magnet 48 and removed from the attachment 12 such that thedisc 14 is transferred with the nail and secured to the work piece 16.

In the embodiments above, an operator may properly and quickly positiona disc 14 in the positioning section 28 of the attachment 12 withoutvisual inspection for alignment of the central aperture 38 with thedischarge axis ‘A’. Accordingly, incremental time savings may berealized where multiple fastener and disc 14 combinations are beingsecured to a work piece 16.

It should also be understood that various changes and modifications tothe presently disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled inthe art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and withoutdiminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that suchchanges and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

1. An attachment for positioning a disc at a nosepiece of a fastenerdriving tool, the attachment comprising: a coupling section having abody defining a hollow portion configured to receive at least a portionof the nosepiece of the fastener driving tool; and a positioning sectionadjacent to the coupling section, the positioning section including alip defining a slotted area having an open side configured to receivethe disc and at least one magnet for magnetically holding the disc inthe positioning section.
 2. The attachment of claim 1, the couplingsection further comprising a coupling tongue extending from the body,the coupling tongue having an engagement portion configured to engage acorresponding engagement portion at the fastener driving tool.
 3. Theattachment of claim 1, wherein the lip of the positioning section isconfigured to position a central opening of the disc along a dischargeaxis defined by the nosepiece of the fastener driving tool and alongwhich a discharged fastener travels so that the discharged fastener isreceived through the central opening.
 4. The attachment of claim 1,wherein the at least one magnet is positioned adjacent to the lip at anopposite end of the slotted area from the open side.
 5. That attachmentof claim 1, wherein the disc is made of a magnetic metal material. 6.The attachment of claim 1, wherein the positioning section is separatedfrom the coupling section by a wall.
 7. A fastener driving toolcomprising: a tool body having a nosepiece extending along a dischargeaxis for discharging a fastener; and an attachment for positioning adisc at the nosepiece, the attachment comprising: a coupling sectionhaving a body defining a hollow portion configured to receive at a leasta portion of the nosepiece; and a positioning section adjacent to thecoupling section, the positioning section including a lip defining aslotted area having an open side configured to receive the disc and atleast one magnet for magnetically holding the disc in the positioningsection.
 8. The fastener driving tool of claim 7, the coupling sectionfurther comprising a coupling tongue extending from the body, thecoupling tongue having an engagement portion configured to engage acorresponding engagement portion at the fastener driving tool.
 9. Thefastener driving tool of claim 7, wherein the lip of the positioningsection is configured to position a central opening of the disc alongthe discharge axis which a discharged fastener travels so that thedischarged fastener is received through the central opening.
 10. Thefastener driving tool of claim 7, wherein the at least one magnet ispositioned adjacent to the lip at an opposite end of the slotted areafrom the open side.
 11. The fastener driving tool of claim 7, whereinthe positioning section is separated from the coupling section by awall.
 12. That fastener driving tool of claim 7, wherein the disc ismade of a magnetic metal material.
 13. The fastener driving tool ofclaim 7, wherein the fastener driving tool is a nailer and the fasteneris a nail.
 14. The fastener driving tool of claim 13, wherein the naileris a pneumatic nailer.
 15. The fastener driving tool of claim 13,wherein the nailer is a cordless nailer.